Silent Disco

The silent disco is a clubbing concept where dancers are provided with personal wireless headphones which can be tuned in to listen to a DJ, or sometimes switch between DJ channels (unlike a flash mob silent disco where the participants would be listening to personal music via portable devices). The concept of a silent disco earns its name because any outsider walking into the event would see a venue full of people dancing, yet hear no music, hence silent disco. Overall this makes for an experience like no other, strange at first but simple to get involved with.

Origins

The idea of a silent disco has been around since eco-activists found that the easiest way to get large numbers of people into certain areas, such as a forest that was being logged, was to put on a party. However a party could cause distress to animals living in the area as the noise generated by such an event could be wholly disruptive. So a solution was needed for particularly sensitive areas, a solution that could incorporate a party whilst limiting impact upon local wildlife. A suggestion of playing music over headphones would not only limit sound disruption but also give those attending the opportunity to experience a new form of party. Thus the concept of a Silent disco was born.

Festivals

The silent disco was first introduced to the UK at Glastonbury in 2005 as a response to noise restrictions. [ cite web |title=Glastonbury to party in silence |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-03-29 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4389057.stm |accessdate=2008-07-07 ] Silent discos are being more regularly used in festivals all across the globe and taking festival goers by storm. Silent discos are specifically successful at festivals as they provide an alternative party which can continue until late without much disruption to locals in terms of noise.

In June 2008, the silent disco featured for the first time at the Download a major rock festival in the UK.

Pohoda Festival (Trencin, Slovakia) included silent disco in 2008 for the first time.

Silent disco is one of the most popular late night entertainment tents at Reading and Leeds.

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival also features a silent disco tent every year.

The 2008 LA Weekly Detour Festival featured a nightime KOSS silent disco with sets from Indie 103.1's DJ PAUL V. and Dim Mak's Ana Calderon.

Beyond the festivals

The concept is generating great response from its audiences and demand is stretching beyond the festival scene. Silent discos are popping up in all manner of venues across the globe. The silent disco concept seems to be very much a favourite amongst the student population with a wide number of student unions hosting events on regular occasions. Venues all over are continually attempting to offer their audiences new and exciting events, and the silent disco is proving to be amongst the most popular in this genre.

The concept is constantly evolving with the recent addition of the Silent Gig where instead of DJ's two live bands play at the same time using fully electrical equipment.

ee also

*Glastonbury Festival

References